“Joe the Plumber”

Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Dean of the College of Communication, comments on “Joe the Plumber” becoming a political symbol.

“So what’s with the politicians’ fascination with plumbers at election time? We have Joe the Plumber taking center stage as the symbol of the economic meltdown’s impact on small business owners. “

“There’s nothing new under the sun, and that includes plumbers in political campaigns. In the 2005 French referendum on the EU Constitution, the desirability of hiring a Polish plumber became a core message in the debate over the benefits of an even or unified EU.

“Joe the Plumber, Polish Plumber — I guess we’ve moved on from Hockey Moms.”